South Australia’s education cuts expose Labor hypocrisy

Claims by the Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten that Labor’s school funding agreement somehow prevented states from cutting their education funding have been proven wrong with the South Australian Labor Government cutting $230 million. This has been confirmed by South Australian Parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee, with some cuts to education not even identified. Mr Shorten’s argument has been exposed by a Labor state cutting hundreds of millions from education, despite having signed an agreement with the commonwealth. The Coalition will treat state and territory governments as adults and while it is disappointing funding has been cut from education, it is a decision for the states. The voters of South Australia will be able to have their say on cuts to education in the state election in 2014. Under the Coalition Government’s plan, no school will be worse off as a result of any action of the Commonwealth Government. The Coalition’s funding model will ensure that power is given to the states when it comes to school funding and give voters the right to decide on who is best to run education in their states. 2 December 2013